Escitalopram
SSRI antidepressant / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Escitalopram, sold under the brand names Lexapro and Cipralex, among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class.[7] Escitalopram is mainly used to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.[7] It is taken by mouth,[7] available commercially as an oxalate salt exclusively.
Common side effects include trouble sleeping, nausea, sexual problems, and feeling tired.[7] More serious side effects may include suicidal thoughts in people up to the age of 24 years.[7] It is unclear if use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe.[8] Escitalopram is the (S)-enantiomer of citalopram (which exists as a racemate), hence the name es-citalopram.[7]
Escitalopram was approved for medical use in the United States in 2002.[7] Escitalopram is rarely replaced by twice the dose of citalopram; escitalopram is safer and more effective.[9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[10] In 2021, it was the fifteenth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 30 million prescriptions.[11][12]